Traction device



March 30, 1948. s cRUMRlNE 2,438,656

TRACTION DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1946 INVENTOR. & 272 Mzzmffzzz PatentedMar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relatesgenerally to traction devices and in particular to adetachable tractiondevice for the tire of an automobile wheel.

Traction and non-skid devices now in common use for automobilesgenerally include, orare entirely comprised of, chains which are subjectto wear and resultantbreakaget A usual the chain has short chainslengthsadaptedto extend about a tire at relativelyspaced positions andengageable' with theroadsurface for tractionpurposes. These short chainlengths, when the tire chain is in use, oftentimes breakand eatchapartof the automobile fender so i as to badly tear or damage the fender, oract asbeaters to dent the fender before the automobile is brought to astop. Further, thebroken chain lengths are diflicult to replace on theroad at the time they'areneeded.

A further objection to the 'usual tire chains is found in the factthat-they are difficult to secure and maintain in-a tight position-onthe tires-so thatthe traction portions o-f'the chainsareconstantlymoving relative to v the" tire. Also the chains are generallyineffective to prevent either a forward or'a sidewise skidding movementof the automobile.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to providesan improvedtraction device'for an automobile tire.

Afurther object of this 'invention is to provide a traction device foran automobile tire in which atraction member on becomingworn or'broken,retains its assembly position onthe tire so as'to eliminateany damage tothe automobile body.

Another object of this invention is'toprovidea traction device fora'tire in which ground engaging member is adapted .to bereplaced with aminimum of time and effort;

A still further object of this invention'is to provide a traction devicefor an automobile tire in which ground engaging members area?a'construction capable of reducing'b'otha forward and sidewise skiddingmovement of anautomobile.

Another object of this "invention is toprovide a traction device for anautomobile tire, which is adapted to automaticallyadjust itself in asnug encirclin position about the tire in response to a flexing movementof the tire.

Still a furth'er object of this invention is to provide a tractiondevice for an automobile tire which is of a rugged construction, capableof withstanding hard usage over prolonged. periods of time withoutrequiring any servicing attention, readily and quickly attachable to ausual a tire I l.

a pair of substantially U-shaped members l2 and.

automobile wheel, and comprised of a few parts adapted to beeconomically manufactured.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a tractiondevice for an automobile tire in which a pair of substantially U-shapedmembers, assembled in relatively nested positions and adaptedto extendabout a wheel tire, havev opposite ends. thereofconnectible withopposite sides of the wheel rim. A pair of adjacent ends of theU-members are yieldably connected together whereby the members areslidably movable relative to each other to snugly fit about the tire.

A traction member, movably carried on the U-.

members for movement radially of the tire, has portions adapted to coactwith portions on the U-members to relatively move the U-members. to moreclosely encirclethe tire when the traction member is in a groundengagingposition.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawingsin which:

. Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of an automobile wheel showingtraction devices of this invention in assembly relation therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view, as seen on the line 2*2 in Fig. 1;

Figs; 3, 4 and 5 are perspective detail views of the parts forming thetraction device of this invention; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

With referenceto the drawings, a traction device of this invention,designated generally as 9,

is illustrated in Fig, 1 in assembly relation with a usual automobilewheel having a rim m and The traction device 9 (Fig. 2) includes l3 anda traction or ground engaging unit M.

The U-member I 2 (Fig. 5) is composed of a flat spring material andintegrally formed at one end with an inwardly extended hook it. Theopposite end of the U-member I2 carries a pin or rod member I! which isthreaded at its free end to' base member 2! are of an arcuate shape incross section for a purpose which will appear later. The upper ends ofthe guides 22 are connected by a bracemember 23. A coil spring 24 ismounted about the rod l1 between the top side of the base member 2|, anda, second washer 21 engageable with the under side of the nut I8,

The washer 21 (Figs. 5 and 6) is adapted to be guidably received betweenthe upright guides 22 of the connecting link I9 to guide the link I9 inconjunction with the extension of the rod II through the link basemember 2| for slidable movement in a direction axially of the rod H. In

other words, the connecting link I9 constitutes a slidable extension forthe rod H, with its movement in one direction outwardly from the end ofthe rod being against the action of the spring,

The intermediate section 28 of the U-member I2 is formed with alongitudinally extended slot 29 (Fig. 2). Provided on the convex side ofthe U-member I2, between the slot 29 and therod II,= is a longitudinallyextended projection 3| which Y has its outer side or surface taperedinwardly from .the slot 29;. toward the rod H. ,The inner Arrangedbetween the. central section 36 and the end 3 of the U-member I3, andprojected outwardly from the concave side of themember I 3 is alongitudinally extended projection 38 constructed similarly to theprojection 3| on the U-meznber I2 and having its inner end- 39 arrangedin a plane, substantially on a radius of the U-member I3. 7 V

The traction member I4 (Figs. 2 and 4) is of an integral metalconstruction and includes a body member 4 I having downwardly projectedground engaging members 42 arranged in 2. iongitudinally spaced relationon its lower side. The ground engaging members 42 are of a substantiallyrectangular shape, and have their bottom surfaces arranged ina commonplane. It is seen, therefore, that the edges defining the bottom surfaceof a ground engaging member 42 are'straight' and relatively sharp for apurpose which will appear later.

The top or head 43 of the body member 4| has side portions 44 extendedlaterally outwardly from the opposite sides of the body member. The topside of thehead member 43 is of a concave shape longitudinally ofthebody member 4| and has a curvature corresponding substantially to thecurvature of the central sections 28and 36 of the U'-members- I2 and I3,respectively.

In the assembly of the traction device of this invention the body member4|, of the ground engaging unit I 4,'is positioned within the U -memberI2 and extended outwardly therefrom through the slot 29 to a'positiondefined by the engagement of thesides 44 of the head member 43 withthefinner or convex side of'the central section 28 of the U-member I2.The sides 44 of the head member 43 are undercut, as indicated at 46 inFig. 4, to engage the side walls 4'! of the slot 29'. This engagement ofthe undercut portions 46 with the slot side walls 4'I maintains thetraction unit, I4 against movement transversely, of the U-member I2,while providing for movement of the traction memberlongitudinally of theslot 29'.

With the U-member I2 and the traction mem:

ber I4 thus relatively assembled, the U -member 4 I3 is nested withinthe U-member I 2 with the concave side of the central section 36positioned within the concave upper side of the traction unit I4 andwith the projection 38 arranged within and extended outwardly from theslot 29 at a position oppositely arranged from the projection 3| on theU-member I2 (Fig. 2). In this assembly relation of the U-members I2'andI3 and of the traction unit I4, the inner ends 32 and 39 of theprojections 3| and 38, respectively, are in bearing engagement with theopposite ends 5| of the body member 4| of the traction unit I4,

which ends 5| are tapered inwardly and upwardly from the ground engagingmembers 42 so as to be incontinuous bearing engagement with theprojections 3| and 36.

The assembly relation of the traction device is the connecting link I9over the hook 34 of the U-member I3. The spring pressed link I9 and thehook 34 thus constitute a yie1dable connec tion between thecorresponding adjacent ends of the U-members I2 and |3to provide for arela- 1 tive slidable longitudinal movement betweenpthe viewed in Fig.2, the hooks I6 and 33 are"con-' two U-members for a purpose which willbe'later explained.

In use the traction device is positioned about the tire II whichisreceived within and against -the inner or convex side of theU-memberI3, it

being understood that the traction unit I4 is maintained in assemblyrelation within the traction device by the clamping or holding action ofthe U-members I2 and I3 on the sides 44 of the head member 43. With thetire positioned within the traction device,the hooks I6 and 33 arepositioned over the opposite side edges not the wheel rim II. Thisconnection of the hooks I6 and 33 with the wheel rim II isreadilyaccomplished by virtue of the yieldable extension of the tractiondevice, as provided by the yieldable' connection of the link I 9 withthe hook 34. Further, since the spring 24 acts to continuously urge thelink I9 toward the lower end of the rod IT, as

traction device in' a snug fit about the tire II.

Stated otherwise, the action .ofthe spring '24 to slidably move the linkI9 in a direction downwardly on the rod I'I, effects a downward pullingaction on the hook I6, as viewed'in Fig. 2, by virtue of the upwardpressure applied by the spring on the nut 22 and the connection of thebrace 23 with the hook 34. Concurrently with this action of the spring24 a downward pressure is applied on the hook 33 by virtue of theconnection of the link I9 with the hook 34 on the U-member I3. As aresult a downward pull is exerted on both of the hooks I6'and 33. r

In a usual operation of the the II it is well known that the tire isflexed radially of the wheel able connection of one pair of adjacentends of the U-members I2 and I3 through the spring pressed link I9, thetraction. device 'is automatically adjusted to snugly encircle the tirelI regardless of its flexing movement. In this con-.

nection, the relative assembly of the tractionunit I4 with the U-membersI2 and I 3 supplements the action of the 'yieldable connection of the U-members to maintain the traction device about the tire l I.

Thus-inthe normaloperation of the-'veh'icle;

whenthe-traction unit I 4 engages the road 'sur-- face, thetire -I Iis=flexed"inwardly radially oi the wheel so thatthe tractionunit I 4= ismoved in' a like direction: Becauseof the bearing engage-- ment oftheends-EI of-the traction' unit I 4"with' the inner ends of theprojections BI and 38,

the projections 3| and 38 are moved ew-ay from each other. The outwardmovement of the projection 38 results. in a. downward. pull on the hook33 while theoutward' movement of the projectionr 3iI':results.:-in-a;downwardmul-l on :the hook I6. As a result the traction device-undergoesa contractingmovement-to more snugly engage the tire I I. This sameaction of the traction unit I4 on the-:U-members I2 and:.I3 -itakesplace-when.

an additionalrweight-cr tractive force is. applied on the tire'I I.i

As was previously mentioned, the edges defining the bottom surfaces ofthe ground engaging members 42 are straight and relatively sharp. Anytendency, therefore, of the vehicle wheels to skid in either a, forwardor a sidewise direction is retarded by the digging action of these sharpedges into the road surface, which digging action is particularlyeffective due to the continuous action of the traction device to snuglyencircle the tire II. By virtue of this action of the traction device,the traction unit I4 is maintained in a substantially fixed position onthe tire and against any rolling or tilting movement which would reducethe effectiveness of the cutting edges on the ground engaging members42.

Since the traction unit I4 is detachably connected with the U-members I2and I3, and with the U-members l2 and I3 alone acting to maintain thetraction device in its assembled position on the tire II, it is readilyapparent that the ground engaging members 42 may be worn completely flatto the bottom side of the body member 4| of the traction unit without inany way effecting the assembly of the traction device on the tire. Also,should the traction unit I4 be worn so as to be ineffective for tractionpurposes,

it may be readily replaced, while the vehicle is on the road, by simplydetaching the hooks I8 and 33 from the wheel rim I0 and assemblying anew traction unit with the U-members I2 and I3.

From a consideration of the above description it is seen that theinvention provides an improved traction device for a vehicle wheel whichis of a compact and simple construction, automatically adjustable tomaintain a snug assembly position on the wheel tire regardless of theflexing movement of the tire, and readily and quickly assembled with andremoved from the tire. The traction unit I4 constitutes the solereplacement in the traction device and is provided with portions 5|adapted to coact with portions 32 and 39 on the U-members I2 and i3,respectively, to continuously maintain a snug fit of the device aboutthe tire.

Further, a complete wearing out of the ground engaging members d2 in noway endangers damage to the automobile body or a loosening of the deviceon the vehicle wheel. Also the ground engaging members are of aconstruction such as to effectively reduce any skidding movement of thevehicle wheel.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimitedsince changesand modifications can be" made therein, whicl'iare-within the fullintended: scope of this invention as defined by thependedclaims.

I' claim:

1'; A tractiondevice for a-velriclewheel having a rimand a tirecomprising, a=first member of asubstantially U-shapeada'pted to bepositioned" about the tire and having apair of hooks ex tended laterallyoutwardly in opposite directions at one end thereof, a second member' ofa'-sub+- stantially U-shape'adapt'ed to fit about the first U memberina:- mating relation, and; having a hook at one end fo-r'engaging oneside of saidwheel rim, with one of the hooks" on said firstsu-pported'on said two members intermediate the ends thereof, andcoacting portions on said two members and on said traction unit adaptedto cooperate with said yieldable means to maintain a pulling force onthe hook ends of said two U-members in response to a movement of saidtraction member radially inwardly of said wheel.

2. A traction device for a vehicle wheel having a rim and a tirecomprising, a pair of nested substantially U-shaped members adapted toextend about said tire, means at opposite ends of said U-members adaptedto be connected with opposite sides of said wheel rim to hold said twomembers about the tire, means yieldably connecting said pair ofU-members for relative longitudinal movement, and a traction un-itsupported on said pair of U-members intermediate the ends thereof.

3. A traction device for a vehicle wheel having a rim with a tirethereon comprising, a pair of nested substantially U-shaped membersadapted to extend about the tire, means connecting opposite ends of saidU-members with opposite sides of said rim, means yieldably connecting apair of adjacent ends of said U-members such that one of said U-membersis yieldably movable longitudinally relative to the other U-member, atraction unit movably supported on said two members, at a positionopposite a ground engaging portion of the tire, for movement radially ofthe vehicle wheel, and coacting means on said traction unit and on saidtwo U-members to move said one U-member relative to the other U-memberin response to a flexing movement of said tire resulting from theengagement of said traction unit with the road surface.

4. A traction device for a vehicle wheel having a rim and a tirecomprising, a pair of substantially U-shaped members, with a first oneof said U-members being adapted for nesting engagement Within the secondone of said U-members, and with said two U-members being adapted toextend about said tire, means at one end of said second U-member forengaging one side of said rim, means at one end of said first U-memberfor engaging the opposite side of said rim, means for yieldablyconnecting said one end of the first U-member with the other end of saidsecond U-member to provide for a relative longitudinal movement betweensaid two U-members,

a traction member movably carried on said two U-members intermediate theends thereof, and coacting means on said traction member and on said twoU-members for relatively moving said two U-members in response to aradial flexing aesaouemovement of said tire resulting from theengagement of said traction member with the road surface;

5. A traction device for a vehicle wheel having a tire and a rimcomprising, a pair of substantially U-shaped members arranged in anested relation one within the other and adapted to receive said tire,means for connecting opposite ends of said pair of U-members withopposite sides of said rim, means yieldably connecting together one ofthe adjacent ends of said two U-members to provide for a relativelongitudinal movement between said two members, a traction member havinga ground engaging portion and a laterally extended head portion, withthe other of said U-members-having a longitudinally extended slotadapted to receive said ground engaging portion therethrough, so thatsaid head portion is positioned between said two U-members, with the endsurfaces of said traction member being inclined upwardly and inwardlyfrom I said traction member, said traction member on contact with theroad surface, being movable toward the tire so that the end surfacesthereof are moved against said projections whereby said U-members arerelatively moved to more closely 10 encircle said tire. r a

' S. M. CRUNIItINE.

REFERENCES CITED g The following references are of record in the 15 fileof this patent! UNITED STATES PATENTS" Number Name Date 1,224,103 CarterApr. 24, 1917 0 1,486,716

Wood Mar; 11, 1924-

